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Renowned British historian and documentarian Bettany Hughes has named Aphrodisias in Aydin, Sagalassos in Burdur, and Gobeklitepe in Sanliurfa as her favorite ancient sites in Türkiye. Speaking about her lifelong connection to the country, Hughes explained that Türkiye was where she first felt inspired to pursue a career in history.
Hughes, who has explored the foundations of Western civilization in documentaries such as The Genius of the Ancient World and Ancient Worlds, recently focused on Türkiye's cultural legacy in her Treasures of the World series.
The historian recalled her first visit to Türkiye at the age of 18, a trip that shaped her understanding of global history. Walking through a peach grove in the ancient city of Ephesus, she was struck by the presence of architectural remains dating back thousands of years. “It was very inspiring. It's one of the reasons I became a professional historian, and I've been coming back ever since,” she said.
Among the many archaeological sites in Türkiye, Hughes holds a particular admiration for Aphrodisias, an ancient city dedicated to Aphrodite, and Sagalassos, a Greco-Roman city perched high in the Taurus Mountains. She described Sagalassos as “incredible,” noting its altitude as one of the highest Greco-Roman sites in the world. But her deepest fascination lies with the prehistoric site of Gobeklitepe, widely considered one of the earliest temple complexes in human history. “That is the beginning of the story of civilization,” she remarked.
Encouraging travelers to look beyond Türkiye’s popular coastal destinations, Hughes urged visitors to venture inland and explore the eastern regions of the country. She recently returned from trips to the historic cities of Mardin and Midyat in southeastern Türkiye, as well as a visit to Gobeklitepe, which is over 11,000 years old. “Take your time, explore the country, go to places that you might not have heard of,” she advised, highlighting the warm hospitality and rich history that await travelers.
Türkiye is more than a professional interest for Hughes—it has become a personal and family tradition. She noted that she has been bringing her family to the country for more than four decades. According to Hughes, Türkiye hosts more archaeological sites than any other country in the world.
In addition to its historical appeal, she praised Turkish cuisine. “I love waking up in the morning and having fresh herbs for breakfast. I'm a huge fan of Turkish cheese, so I'll eat that for breakfast, lunch and for dinner,” she said, also singling out roasted aubergines and rosewater-sweetened desserts as favorites. “So, it's very definitely my happy place in culinary terms,” she added.
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